Brian May, Partner

  • Former Chief of Staff to Miami-Dade County Mayor’s Office and to U.S. Senator Bill Nelson
  • Over three decades experience in political consulting and state & local government lobbying, with expertise in large real estate and economic development projects
  • Public affairs advocate, real estate investor, and restauranteur

Prior to representing private-sector clients in Miami, Brian May spent a decade working in state and local government and politics at various high-level positions. He is a well-recognized expert in Florida politics and government, specializing in the areas of local government procurement, real estate development and land use, technology, transportation, public budgets, issue management, message development, and community engagement.

While working inside government, Brian had a number of successes at the local level and in Florida’s Capital City. He assisted the then Department of Insurance with the first depopulation of Citizens’ Property Insurance Corporation during his tenure with then Florida Insurance Commissioner Bill Nelson. As Chief of Staff to Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas, He also led a County negotiating team that reached a landmark agreement with the Miami Heat for the construction of the Kaseya Center Arena.

Brian represents a wide range of clients at the local level and has expertise in representing complicated real estate development projects in securing land-use, zoning, permitting, and transportation entitlements from local governments and state agencies. Brian led the Miami Dolphins’ negotiations with Miami-Dade County on a public-private partnership to modernize Hard Rock Stadium, and was the lead consultant for the establishment of ride-sharing model regulations in South Florida. Most recently, Brian played a key role in the 4-year effort to secure local approvals to make the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix a reality.

Brian has also recruited to manage a number of statewide referendum campaigns, including Florida constitutional amendments to require mandatory background checks at gun shows, and the establishment of public pre-k education for Florida four-year-olds.

In addition to his main focus as a public affairs professional, Brian is an owner of the iconic Noma Beach at Red Fish restaurant in Miami, and is an investor in a number of real estate projects..

Brian is a graduate of Furman University with degrees in political science and philosophy and holds a Certificate of Real Estate Investment Analysis from New York University. He has been listed as one of Florida’s most influential lobbyist for over a decade by multiple publications. He also serves on the board of the Miami Super Bowl Host Committee, as Vice Chairman of the South Florida College Football Playoff National Championship Host Committee, and as Chairman of the Miami-Dade Cultural Affairs Council.